by Kathy Reichs
The bad. Florence Sorg wanted nothing to do with reburying Melanie and Ella. Though she’d tried, Ariel had been unable to locate any other Chalamet/Chalmers kin.
Counterbalancing good. Since Melanie and Ella were from Massachusetts, and U.S. citizens, Ariel had found a Boston cemetery willing to donate a plot and marker and a church that would volunteer a priest’s services.
Pending my approval, Pierre LaManche would release the remains in Quebec. Ebony Herrin would release those in Charleston. At long last, Melanie, Ella, and Lena would have a memorial bearing their names.
When I spoke to Ariel, she attributed the happy ending to Mother Mary MacKillop, patron saint of abused girls.
I wasn’t so sure.
It didn’t matter.
Three daughters would lie with their mothers for eternity.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As usual, many people generously gave input that helped me keep this book accurate.
Dr. Andrew Rasmussen, who is at the Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, shared invaluable insights into molecular genetics and genome editing. Dr. Susan Erin Presnell provided information on the layout of the morgue and the functioning of the Pathology Department at the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center in Charleston. Isabelle Comtois, technicienne d’autopsie extraordinaire, was infinitely patient with my questions concerning updates in procedure at the Bureau du coroner and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale in Montreal.
My BFFs in forensic anthropology, Drs. Leslie Eisenberg, Diane France, Madeleine Hinkes, Elizabeth Murray, and Marcella Sorg, answered endless queries about bones and fractures and decomp. Dr. William Rodriguez shared his knowledge of barnacles, snails, and other creatures from the deep.
My BFFs to the north, Dorothée Berryman, Melanie Kau, Pauline Normand, and Suzanne Vachon (the five of us were once dubbed in print L’équip de choc!), steered me straight on all things Québécois.
Denmar Dixon offered tips concerning fast boats. Bill Hurley navigated me along the water route from Dorval to Saint-Anicet.
My assistant, Melissa Fish, performed too many tasks to enumerate.
I owe a huge thank-you to my editors, Rick Horgan in the U.S., Laurie Grassi in Canada, and Bethan Jones in the UK. Y’all are awesome.
I also want to acknowledge all those who work so very hard on my behalf. At home in the U.S.: Nan Graham, Roz Lippel, Jaya Miceli, Brian Belfiglio, Abigail Novak, Brianna Yamashita, Beckett Rueda, and Katie Rizzo. On the other side of the pond: Ian Chapman, Suzanne Baboneau, Harriett Collins, Rich Vlietstra, Justine Gold, Polly Osborn, and Gill Richardson. North of the forty-ninth: Kevin Hanson, Nita Pronovost, Felicia Quon, Adria Iwasutiak, Jillian Levick, and Greg Tilney. And so very many others too numerous to name.
I am grateful to my legal representatives, Deneen Howell and Robert Barnett at Williams and Connolly, LLP. Thanks for having my back.
My family was infinitely patient. As were Skinny and Turk.
I send a great big crushing bear hug to all my readers. It’s gratifying that you’re so loyal to Tempe. I hope in the near future to be able to see you once again at signings and public appearances. Until then, visit my website (KathyReichs.com), like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter (@kathyreichs) and Instagram (@kathyreichs). You are the reason I write!
If I failed to thank someone I should have, I apologize. If the book contains errors, they are my fault.
More from this Series
Deja Dead
Book 1
Death Du Jour
Book 2
Deadly Decisions
Book 3
Fatal Voyage
Book 4
Grave Secrets
Book 5
Bare Bones
Book 6
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© MARIE-REINE MATTERA
KATHY REICHS’s first novel, Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. The Bone Code is Kathy’s twentieth entry in her series featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Kathy was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest-running scripted drama, Bones, which is based on her work and her novels. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Kathy divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Quebec.
SimonandSchuster.com
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Kathy-Reichs
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ALSO BY K ATHY REICHS
ADULT FICTION
Déjà Dead
Death du Jour
Deadly Décisions
Fatal Voyage
Grave Secrets
Bare Bones
Monday Mourning
Cross Bones
Break No Bones
Bones to Ashes
Devil Bones
206 Bones
Spider Bones
Flash and Bones
Bones Are Forever
Bones of the Lost
Bones Never Lie
Speaking in Bones
The Bone Collection
Bones Buried Deep (coauthored with Max Allan Collins)
A Conspiracy of Bones
NOVELLAS
Bones in Her Pocket
Swamp Bones
Bones on Ice
YOUNG ADULT FICTION (WITH BRENDAN REICHS)
Virals
Seizure
Code
Exposure
Terminal
NOVELLAS
Shift
Swipe
Shock
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Interior design by Wendy Blum
Jacket design by Ervin Serrano
Jacket photograph by Karina Vegas/Arcangel; Red Wires by Mikhail Grachikov/Shutterstock
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Reichs, Kathy, author.
Title: The bone code / Kathy Reichs.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021005892 | ISBN 9781982139964 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781982139971 (paperback) | ISBN 9781982139988 (epub) Subjects: GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3568.E476345 B57 2021 | DDC 813/.54—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021005892
ISBN 978-1-9821-3996-4
ISBN 978-1-9821-3998-8 (ebook)
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